Autopsy: Boy killed by police not shot in head like family claimed

Dawn RhodesTribune reporter

A 15-year-old Calumet City boy with an autism disorder killed by police this week was not shot in the head, contrary to what a family member previously contended, the Lake County, Ind., coroner’s office said today.

Stephon Watts of the 600 block of Forsythe Avenue died of multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso, according to a press release issued by the coroner’s office.

Police were called to the Calumet City residence Wednesday morning after Watts, who had Asperger's syndrome, said he didn’t want to go to school and tussled with his father.

Police had been called to subdue Watts several times in the past two years, most recently in December when he punched his mother in the face.

When police responded to the home Wednesday, two officers found Watts in the basement wielding a kitchen knife, officials said.

When Watts “lashed out” and struck one of the officers in the forearm, each officer fired one shot, striking the teen, police said.

Watts’ father, Steven Watts, said his son was holding a butter knife and had been shot once in the leg, and when he moved, was shot again in the head.